BOTW 2025 DRINKING WINNERS

The times, they are a-changin’, and nowhere is that more apparent in West Michigan than the drinking scene.

When we launched Best of the West a decade ago, craft beer was booming and it felt like a dozen new breweries were opening annually across the region. Now, we haven’t had enough options to host a New Brewery category for two years.

That isn’t to say they’re all gone. People still congregate to their favorite breweries and pick up six-packs of local IPAs from the store, but we’ve seen a lot of consolidation and a shift of focus from the liquid itself to the community provided by beer. Not to mention the changing favorites—while Founders is certainly still a local institution, smaller spots like City Built and Archival have come to dominate in recent years.

But more than that, our palate seems to be expanding beyond beer. New wine bars like Chateau and Good Good Good have quickly become local favorites, offering something a little less filling and slower to sip. Then there are the cocktail bars and distilleries, like Long Road, which has now won Best Cocktails every single year of Best of the West! In Uptown, you’ll also find Long Road’s Less Traveled cocktail bar, Eastern Kille Distillery’s smaller location, and Mammoth Distilling, all thriving in close proximity.

And at just about every one of these places, you’ll now find a concerted effort to offer quality non-alcoholic beverages as well. Craft beer itself may have settled down for now, but it’s clear gathering together to drink delicious beverages isn’t going anywhere.

STAFF PICKS

Craft Cocktails - Buffalo Traders Lounge

Since 2017, despite changing times and changing teams, Buffalo Traders Lounge has consistently brought us some of the best and most innovative cocktails in West Michigan. Curious what they have? You won’t find a menu online, because it’s regularly being refreshed with new offerings to meet the moment. It’s a place where staff are allowed to follow their creativity and bring their unique voices to the bar. Plus, the art deco vibes are great. – Josh Veal